Florida Fun!

We made it down to Clearwater on Saturday, late afternoon. It was an eventful car trip; that is for sure! When we got here, it was 82 degrees and sunny. It rained yesterday. Well, it POURED!!! It was still in the 70's so really not much complaining. Today, it was close to 70 and absolutely gorgeous in the sun!!! But is was SUPER windy!!!! Sand blowing everywhere!

Yesterday, we went to Fort De Soto in St. Petersburg. There was an old fort from the Spanish-American War. The kids had fun exploring all the rooms and looking at the cannons. We were able to go up on top and take in the amazing views!! On the way up the steps, there was a sign that said slippery when wet and do not enter if lightning. It was cloudy and we knew the rain was coming b/c we heard lots of thunder claps. But no lightning. We went up anyway with our little worrier, Rylie, telling us to hurry the whole way! It did start to lightning while we were up there, and let me tell you, Rylie couldn't get down fast enough! It poured and poured! And poured some more. We went to the Pier in St. Pete for lunch, thinking the rain may let up. Not a chance. We got soaked getting back to the car. We stopped at an outdoor sports equipment store...lots of camping, hunting, fishing, scuba, ski gear...and more. The kids enjoyed looking at everything and thought it was cool there was even a pool to practice diving and kayaking in! What to do on a rainy evening??? Go to the movies! We went to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Rylie has read a few of the books. She said the books are better than the movie. I think I thought the movie was funnier than they did. Some of the things I laughed at, I think the kids knew were inappropriate so they didn't find them so funny. We talked about the good lessons that they could bring away from the movie when we got in the car.

Ft. De Soto

picture right before the lightning up on top of the fort

Today, we went to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Loved it!!! It was small but is a working marine hospital and rescues animals, rehabilitates them, and if appropriate, releases the animals back into the wild. Very neat place. We loved the dolphins! Especially Winter. She is a dolphin who lost her tail as a baby in a crab net. She wears a prosthetic tail and goes through dolphin physical therapy!!! Then, we went to take a ride on Captain Memo's Pirate Boat. It was just okay for me. I am not much for being on a boat anyway. Remember how I said this was the windy day. Yes, we were WAY out in the bay in all that wind! I thought we were all going to die at one point, but that is just my anxiety on the water! The kids had a ball! The ship's crew did lots of fun activities with the kids...water gun fights, treasure hunt, story time, face painting, dancing, limbo, games....FUN!!!

kids holding Winter's prostethesis

Winter

More Winter

In this pic, you can sort of tell that she doesn't have a tail.
She only wears her prosthesis for a few hours a day.
one of the other dolphins in the show

They put on a good show!

I tried to find sweatshirts before we went on the boat b/c the wind was chilly. So, the kids got to play on the playground at Clearwater Beach.
Aboard Captain Memo's

water fight fun!!

little pirates